Olivier Award nominee O'Connor (Chicago on Broadway and the West End, Mack and Mabel in the West End) navigates "six funny yet touching monologues" that explore "the lives of six very different women all at bombshell moments in their lives," according to The Rep. The one-woman play, written for O'Connor, has played engagements in Australia, Canada, England and Scotland. The U.S. premiere is at The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse Stage through Dec. 19.
According to The Rep, "Bombshells showcases [O'Connor's] remarkable versatility as an actor, singer and dancer. The six women Ms. O'Connor plays include: a mother who delivers her non-stop day in a rapid-fire internal monologue; an abandoned wife who has found solace in cactus plants; a feisty Catholic school girl determined to defeat her arch-rival in a talent competition; an increasingly frazzled bride on her wedding day; a widow with an appetite for the unexpected; and an American singer who's had her share of disappointments."
Clements began his tenure as The Rep's new artistic director with the 2010-11 season. He is an award-winning international theatre director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theatres throughout Europe and the U.S. Recent productions include: Cabaret at Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Oliver!, Born Yesterday, Great Expectations, Les Miserables (2008 Barrymore Award - Best Production of a Musical); Of Mice and Men (2007 Barrymore Award – Best Director and Best Production of a Play), all for Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia; The Milliner (Off-Broadway world premiere) at CSC; and many more.
Joanna Murray-Smith is a Melbourne-based playwright, screenwriter, librettist, novelist and newspaper columnist. Among her plays are Atlanta, Redemption, Rapture and Broadway's Honor.
Following its Sydney premiere to sell-out crowds, Bombshells (2004) traveled overseas to the Edinburgh Festival and was awarded the Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award. It was then performed in London’s West End where it received the 2005 London Theatergoers Choice Award. The work has since been performed around the globe and was filmed for Australian television. The cast also features Rep artistic intern ensemble members Rukhmani K. Desai (Ensemble); Stephanie Lambourn (Ensemble) and Georgina McKee (Ensemble).
The production team includes Richard Hoover (scenic designer), Gregory Gale (costume designer), Jeff Nellis (lighting designer), John Tanner (composer/sound designer) and Richelle Harrington Calin (stage manager).
For tickets and information, call (414) 224-9490 or visit milwaukeerep.com.
For more information about O'Connor, visit carolineoconnor.com.
